Flying-machine.



PATENTED JULY 30, 1907.

E. LA PENOTIERE. FLYING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED 13110.34, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED JULY 30, 1907.

E2 M. LA PENOTIERE. FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 24,1906.-

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 861,740. I LA'ILRN 1HD JULY so, 190?. E. M; LA-PENOTIERE. FLYING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED DBO. 24,1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEBT 3.

n g mm mm Wm Mm Witnesses UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD M. 'LA PENOTIERlE, OF MlNNFlA POLTS, MINNESOTA.

FLYING-MACHINE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. July 30, 1907.

Application filed December 24,190! Serial No. 349,293,

movement and functions of the wing feathers of a bird.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is afront elevation of a flying machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the 'same. Fig.3 is a detail View of a portion of the frame showing the manner of mounting the valves thereon. Fig. 4' is a sectional view showing the valves in their closed position, one of them being indicated by dotted lines, in an open position. Fig. 5 is an edge view showing the manner of pivoting the valves on the frame of the machine. Fig. 6 is a detail view in perspective, illustrating the offset in the valve and the po-- sition of the notch therein with respect to the notch in the angle bar frame.

In the drawing, 2 represents the frame, made preferably of light tubing and having depending hangers 3 and braces 4 supporting vertically yielding plates 5 carrying pneumatic tired wheels 6. Springs 7 resist the upward movement of the plates and with the wheels serve to relieve the shock when the machine strikes the ground. The frame portion has a series of upright posts or standards 8 supporting a super-structure 9 of light material, said frame and super-structure being' braced and stayed by suitable wires or cords 10 and 11.

A shaft 12 is mounted transversely along the middle line of the. frame and has a driving connection 13 with a motor 14 of suitable type. A clutch 15 operated by a lever lliis provided for the purpose of throwing the motive power into and ontof connection with the shaft. Each end of the shaft 12 is provided with a beveled gear 17 n1oshing with similar gearlS on the lower end of an upright shaft 19, carrying a spiral 20 which, when rapidly revolved will tend to raise the machine off the ground to the desired'elevation andwill also have a forward propelling tendency and enable the machine to be operated at an incline against the wind. These spirals may be made of any suitable.material and size that is found to be best adapted for the purpose. The machine will be raised vertically by the spirals to the desired elevation and then the forward or horizontal movement will be obtained by use of the aeroplane principle allowing the mach inc to tilt and travel with a combined forward and descending movement.

A rudder shaft 21 is mounted beneath the frame at right angles substantially to the shaft 12 and a rudder 22 has a knuckle joint connection with said shaft. A rod 24 extends upwardly from said shaft and is connected by stays 25 with the rudder and is operated by means of a lever 26 connected by a rod 27 with the rod 24. A spring 27 normally tends to hold the rudder in an elevated position, but the operator can rock the lever back and forth or to either side and swing. the rudder to any desired position to steer the maehinci The superstructure of the machine is preferably provided with angle bars 28 riveted to the tube frame which bars have a series of notches 29 in their horizontal flanges, and valves 30 consisting preferably of flat metal blades having notches 31 that interlock with the notches 29 and allow a pivotal connection between the edges of the notches whereon the valves turn in opening or closing. The notches 3]. are preferably formed upon the opposite edges of the contiguous valves, as

shown in Fig. 4, springs 34 being mounted on the bars 28 and arranged to bear on the said valves for the purpose of normally holding them in their closed position. It will be noted that these valves or blades are eccentrieally mounted or pivoted at one side of their middle 'line so that-when the machine rises, the pressure of the air on the right side of the-pivot of each valve will overcome the pressure on the opposite side, owing to the difference in area, and the valves will open automatically against the. tension of their springs and offer no resistance to the ascent of the machine, As soon, however, as there is any tendency to descend, the air striking the under side of each valve will swing it back to its closed position, and when the valves are all shut they will form a continuous imperforate surface in the top; of the super-structure, that will have all the functions and characteristics of an aeroplane. These,

valves will work automatically, opening as the machine ascendsand closing when it descends, without any attention on the part of the operator.

I have observed that birds that are very strong on the wing, such as sea-gulls, have the feathers of their wings provided with a greater area on' one side of the stem than on the other, and these feathers are so mounted as to rotate partially and open or close according to whether the bird is ascending or descending. This principle I have endeavored to embody in the construction and mode of operation oi these valves. v They are pivoted I eccentrically with respect to their middle line, there utilized; Whenever the machine moves upwardly the valves open and allow the free passage of the airand offer no resistance to the ascent. As soon as descent begins, however, the valves will close and resist downward movement. If the machine is moving in ahorizontal direction. through the air the valves will i close and render the machine more stable, and facili-.

tats the work of the operator in directing and c'on-. trolling it. The number and size of these valves will,

of course, be varied according to the dimensions and capacity'of the machine. .I have shown these valves mounted on an angle barframe, but do not confine myself to this construction, and although I have shown the valves arranged in the super-structure of the flying machine alone the same principle may be embodied in the r udder if desired.

I claim as my invention:

1. Ina machine for aerial navigation, a rigidly support ed frame, a series of valves consisting of blades having offsets extending lengthwise thereof andat one side of their longitudinal centers and provided with pivots formed by notchesin said ;offsets interlocking with corresponding notches in said frame, and'jsaid blades being of substantially the same width fromend to end and freely movable -on their pivots and having surfaces on each side of their pivots exposed to theair pressure, the surfaces on one side of the pivots being of greater area than those on the other side, and the air pressure on the upper side of the surfaces of greater area overcoming the pressure on the upper side of the surfaces of .less area, whereby as the machine ascends the valves will open automatically and permit the ascent without obstruction and the pressure of the air on the under" side of said surfaces of greater'area overcoming the pressure on'the under side of the surfaces of less area, whereby as the machine descends the valves will close automatically and resist descent, substantially as described. i x

2. In a machine for aerial navigation a rigidly supported frame, a series of valves having offsets extendipg lengthwise thereof at one side of their longitudinal centers and provided with pivots at the ends of said offsets in said frame and said valves being composed of blades having overlapping edges and said blades V being provided with surfaces on each side of their pivots exposed to the air pressure, the surfaces on one side of the pivots being of greater area than those on the other side,wher eby the pressure of air on the upper surfaces of .15th day of December 1906.

the blades will cause them to swing open automatically and permit the ascent of the machine without obstruction, and the pressure of-air on the under side of said surfaces causing the said valves to close during the descent of the machine and resist such descent. v

3. In a machine for aerial navigation, the combination with a frame having notches at intervals, of blades having offset portions provided with notches to enter the notches in said frame and form a pivotal connection therewith,

said blades having overlapping edges and their pivots being eccentrically arranged and permitting said blades to open automatically during the ascent of the machine, and

close during its descent.

'4. In a machine for aerial navigation,-the combination with an angle bar frame having notches at intervals in its horizontal flanges, of blades having olfsets eccentricallyarranged and extending'lengthwise thereof and provided with. notches in the ends to enter the notches in said flanges, whereby a portion of each blade will be above said flange and a portion beneath said flange, and the portion beneath said flange being of greater area than that above, whereby when the machine ascends, said valves will open and will close during descent of the machine, substantially as described. I

5. A machine for aerial navigation comprising a frame, a source of power mounted thereon, means driven from said source of power for lifting the machino, a guiding device, a super-structure mounted on said frame and extendinghorizontally over the same, said super-structure being rigidly secured and comprising a rectangular frame, a series of valves consisting of blades of substantially the same width, from end to end and having pivots at their ends and at one side of their longitudinal centers in said rectangular frame, and said pivots being. formed by interlocking notches in the ends of said blades and in said frame and said blades being freely movable on their pivots and having surfaces on each side of theirpivots exposed to the air pressure, the surfaces on one, side of the pivots being of greater area than those on the' other side, and. the air pressure on the upperside of the surfaces of greater area overcoming the pressure on the upper side of the surfaces of less area, whereby as the machineascends the valves will open automatically and permit the ascent'without obstruction, and the pressure of the air on the under side of said surfaces of greater area overcoming the pressure on the under side of the surfaces of less area, whereby as the machine descends the valves will close automatically and resist descent.

6. In a machine for aerial navigation, the combination of a frame having notches at intervals, with blades having olfset portions provided with notches to enter the notches in said frame and form a pivotal connection therewith.

said blades having overlapping edges and their pivots beln'g eccentrically arranged and permitting said blades to open automatically during the ascent ofthe machine and close during its descent, and springs mounted on said frame and arranged to engage said blades and normally hold them in a closed position.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this EDWARD M. LA PENOTIERE.

Witnesses:

Riemann IfAnL,

J. B. E 

